Twofer Leaves.

 I thought I'd better get this post written today just in case I react to the 2nd Covid Jab which I had this morning. Not sure how it will react with the steroids I'm having to take.I do know though that I probably won't be as protected as I would be if I wasn't having to take them. It also took me three days to make these cards as I was having a couple of tired days. It is so easy to overdo things now!

The Twofer challenge this month is Leaves. I came across this die in my stash when I was looking for something else and thought I would use it. I've got no idea where I got it from or how long I've had it!

The first card was nice and easy. I cut the leaves out of green card and mounted it on a previously made background. The die  cut frame was also in my bits and bobs drawer.

 

 

The second one took a lot more thought. Eventually I cut the left hand leaf off and inked it randomly with Distress oxides, then cut and inked another three.

I found a matching snippet of orange paper which I wrapped with linen thread and mounted on the bottom of the card and placed the four leaves randomly along the join.

 

And here they are together.

Off  for a rest now befoer I go for my post lockdown haircut. I don't think my hair has been this long since I was in my twenties!

Birthday Wings!

It's the middle of the month so time for a new challenge at Perfectly CAS, and this month it is "Wings".

 

 Now I'm fairly sure that the popular choices will be butterflies, dragonflies,birds and bees. I decided to be different!

No NBUS here either as the plane is a very old SU stamp and the sentiment an old one from Clarity. I stamped the plane first then lined up the sentiment to look as though it was coming from the exhaust,. I stamped it in blue and red (very patriotic), reminiscent of the Red Arrows! It looked a bit naked so I masked off the rest of the card and carefully applied a very pale blue Copic - intentionally patchy _ for the sky.

Don't forget to use just one third of your card to join us. Lots more ideas on the challenge blog!

Paper Pieced Pants!

One of the blogs I follow frequently has paper pieced images onit and I always wonder hy I don't do more of it. Well this month the CAS Mix Up challenge is asking for paper piecing so I had to join in.

I had a rummage for a suitable stamp and found this old one from Little Claire Designs and thought it might make a good male card.

 

 

The scalloped rectangle is a Julie Hickey die. The papers are from my large stash of snippets so I'm also sharing at Pixie's Playground.

Golden Birthday Buddha

It was recently Roy's birthday and as he is very fond of oriental things having lived in Hong Kong many years ago, I wanted to make a suitable card. He is particularly fond of Buddha's and when I saw this stamp last year, I knew it would make a perfect card for him. I have to thank Jane for her enabling post here.

I stamped and embossed on gold mirri card and then mounted it onto a leafy background, made with a Uniko background stamp and inked around the edges.That should have been the finished card but I made a mess on the inside! So cut the front off and mounted it on to a gold A5 card, then was much more careful stamping on the inside. I'm sharing this at the NBUS challenge and Watercooler Challenge.

HLS Stencil April

Oops! I scheduled the wrong time for this post, so it’s a little bit late! I’m blaming the medication for brain fog!

 Welcome to the fourth of this month's challenges at Happy Little Stampers., the Stencil challenge.

I recently did one of Eileen Godwin's workshops on Facebook and afterwards made this card as a more simplified version, but using the same techniques.

 

To start I smooshed Distress Oxides onto a craft mat sprayed with water and mopped up with the card, repeating with different colours until I was happy with the result. Then sponged through a Tracy Scott stencil with Versafine Clair ink.  Some gold pen scribbling round the petals and a sentiment added completed the card.

Do check out all the inspiration on the challenge blog.

HLS Christmas in April

Welcome back to the Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge. As always it is Anything Goes but the optional twist this month is Under the Tree.

I'm not sure whether this fits the theme or is just a tree! I found this tiny stamp in my box of Christmas NBUS. Please remind me that I do NOT need to buy any more Christmas stamps!) I think it was a fairly old magazine freebie.

It started out as a very CAS card, but I had to add the bling as the black stars did nothing for me.

Somehow I doubt that I'll ever use it again!

There's a whole heap of inspiration on the challenge blog from my fellow teamies. Why don' you join in and get a head start on those Christmas cards - you know it makes sense!

HLS Watercolour April

Another month has flown by and it's time for the new HLS watercolour challenge. As always it is anything goes.

 

I have used a new stamp that has been sitting on my desk since before Christmas. I have to thank Darnell for enabling me!

I watercoloured it with some Whit Knights paints that had been mixed for another project - waste not, want not!

I added some splatters and a Uniko sentiment before matting onto some matching purple card.

Be sure to check out the challenge blog for more inspiration.

Rudolph Day April

Thank you all for your good wishes and comments on my post about lack of making. But without further ado its time for another Rudolph Day!

I used a NBUS Tim Holtz Stamp Set that fell into my basket last September! The border is a Penny Black die. 

Now that the meds have kicked in I am able to do a lot more but do still have to pace myself. It’s easy to  overdo things!

Perfectly Cas

It's time for aa new challenge at Perfectly Cas and this month we have a reallly easy theme for you - Birthday!

 

 

I decided to use the middle third of the card and stamped a row of cactus plants around the sentiment. I used the Misti, which meant I could stamp all the images at once.The stamp is an HLS one.

 

I added two score lines above and below the images to add a bit of definition, then coloured them with Polychromos pencils.

I look forward to seeing all your cas cards and if you need more inspiration pop over to the challenge blog.
 

 

Painting Collage

I haven't been doing much crafting for the last few weeks other than DT work and my online Zoom art class, as I have been feeling rather unwell, very stiff, achy and tired. Last week I decidd enough was enough and got on to the GP who ordered a blood test ehich I had Friday morning. Friday afternoon I got a call with the results and a prescripton. I have been diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica, and I have to admit I had never heard of it. Anyway I'm now on steroids for at least a year and after only one dose I found it easier to turn over and get out of bed this morning!

Anyway to make up for my lack of cards I thought I'd show you some of the artwork I've done at the Zoom classes.

Hopefully once the meds have really kicked in I'll be back to cardmaking!